You knew it, we knew it, and now even BMC can’t deny it. It’s May 31 and the civic body has missed its deadline to complete concretisation of all the dug-up roads. Nowhere left to go, BMC? Join the club
Even this worker seems to have given up — in the middle of the road, no less — at Manmala Tank Road in Matunga West. Only part of the road has been concretised, and motorists are limited to the one lane where the surface has been levelled. Pic/Ashish Raje
It's the end of the road for the BMC. To absolutely no one’s surprise, the civic body has missed its self-declared deadline of May 31 to make our roads monsoon-ready. After months of putting up with traffic snarls because of the work, and with roads currently still dug-up across several parts of the city, Mumbaikars must now buckle up for an even rougher commute this rainy season.
The civic body had issued an ultimatum to contractors to complete the road concretisation works by the end of May, or face steep fines or even termination of contract.
While work has been completed in some stretches, too many areas remain riddled with trenches. Sunday mid-day conducted its own test drive, sending out our photographers to various locations in Mumbai hours before the midnight deadline. Here’s our report card.
Incomplete
Goregaon: This is just one of the stretches that have been dug up on the main road inside Aarey Colony, Goregaon East. With just one lane open, there are hours-long traffic snarls on the 2.5-km stretch between Royal Palms Complex and Aarey market. Pic/Shadab Khan
Mahim: This incomplete stretch at Mahim West’s Kapad Bazar is serving more as a godown for concrete pipes than a road. A man waits for two youths on a bike to vacate the only way forward — the half-lane between the debris. Pic/Ashish Raje
Bandra: Long-suffering Bandra West will have to put up with traffic snarls for a while yet on the busy Hill Road. The middle of the road doesn’t even look close to done. Pic/Dweep Bane
Santacruz: BMC just can’t get it right, and neither can you; not at this right turn anyway. While the concretisation of North Avenue Road in Santacruz West seems complete, entry to the bylane remains shut. Pic/Dweep Bane
Andheri: The left-hand lane on this stretch off Military Road, in Andheri East’s Marol, looks smooth, but the right side looks like little more than gravel and silt just waiting to be washed off in the rains. Pic/Shadab Khan
Completed
Girgaon: The crossroad near Opera house in Girgaon is complete, but patch repairs have already had to be made (bottom left corner). Pic/Atul Kamble
Santacruz: Santacruz West residents must have accumulated some amazing karma; Poddar Road is complete, and in pretty good shape, except for some regrettable paan stains. Pic/Dweep Bane
Bandra: The streets finally match the aesthetic of this upscale neighbourhood in Bandra West, with work on Dr V Raghunath Marg now complete. Pic/Dweep Bane
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